Platen roll



Nov. 4, 1 958 A; w. METZNER ET AL PLATEN ROLL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 14, 1956 INVENTORS 415597 If. A/[TZ/VEA Jflfl/V Z' DAV/D50 BY mlwm 2:3 A TORNEY United States Patent PLATEN ROLL Albert W. Metzner and John T. Davidson, Dayton, Ohio, assignors to The Standard Register Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application June 14, 1956, Serial No. 591,461 16 Claims. (Cl. 197-144) This invention relates to platen rolls and operating means therefor, 'in typewriting and like machines, and particularly to platen mechanism wherein difierent platen surfacesmay be selected for use.

In the making of multiplecopies on a typewriting or like machine, the legibility of the bottommost copy normally will decrease with an increase in the number of copies. It has heretofore been known to compensate for this problem by substituting in the machine a platen having a surface hardness designed to produce the greatest legibility throughout a set of record copies of predetermined number. In adding to or reducing the number of copies, the previously selected platen is removed from the machine and replaced by another one of appropriate surface density. This method of approach to the problem of uniform legibility is successful but has obvious disadvantages. Thus, it is necessary to keep on hand a supply of differently constructed platen rolls, and the time involved in making each substitution may not be inconsiderable, particularly when the platen assemblies are constructed with pin wheel feeding devices which are now in common use in multi-copy work to obtain accurate registration of record forms.

The object of the invention is to simplify the construction' as well'as the means and mode of operation of platen rolls, whereby such platen rolls may not only be economically manufactured, but will be more eflicient and satisfactory in use, adaptable to a wide variety of applications, and be unlikely to get out of repair.

It is a further object of this invention to provide for selectivity in the use of platen surface without the need for physically substituting one platen for another.

Another object of the invention is to introduce a generally new platen roll made up of arcuate segments of respectively different surface hardness.

A further object of the invention is to limit use of a platen surface to selected areas thereof, the platen roll being adjustable to select such areas.

Still another object of the invention is to introduce a generally new relationship between a platen roll and a platen shaft, in a platen mechanism, wherein the platen roll supports the record material against the impact of the type members without rotating with the platen shaft, it being further proposed in this connection to oscillate the platen roll to distribute the Wear over a selected part of the surface area thereof.

A still further object of the invention is to present a registrator type platen wherein rotary motion of the platen to advance the pin wheels in a rotary direction effects an oscillatory motion of the platen roll, with the platen roll being relatively adjustable in order that different parts of the surface thereof may selectively be presented for use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a platen roll possessing the advantageous structural features, the

inherent meritorious characteristics and the mode of operation herein mentioned.

2,858,927 Patented Nov. 4, 1958 With the above primary and other incidental objects in View as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention intended to be protected by Letters Patent consists of the features of construction, the parts and combination thereof, and the mode of operation as hereinafter described or illustrated in the accompanying drawings, or their equivalents.

Referring to the accompanying drawing wherein is shown one but obviously not necessarily the only form of embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a front view, partly broken away, of a registrator platen assembly constructed in accordance with the illustrated embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view of the platen assembly of Fig. 1 in side elevation, with some parts of a typewriter carriage added thereto;

Fig. 3 is a view in cross section, taken substantially along the line 33 of Fig. 1 and with some further parts of a typewriter carriage diagrammatically illustrated;

Fig. 4 is a detail view, in perspective, of one end of the'platen roll and of a part of the means for oscillating the roll;

Fig. 5 is a detail view in cross section of the means for oscillating the platen roll taken along line 55 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a detail fragmentary view, in perspective, showing the connection between the platen shaft and the means for oscillating the platen roll;

Fig. 7 is a detail view in front elevation, partly broken away, of the pin wheel feeding assembly;

Fig.8 is a view in cross section, taken substantially along the line 88 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a detail view in longitudinal section of the platen roll, being taken substantially along the line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a detail view similar to Fig. 3, showing the spring detent connection between the platen roll and the means for oscillating the platen roll in an intermedi ate position between detenting positions; and

Fig. 11 is a view in end elevation of the platen roll, similar to Fig. 8, showing a modified arrangement of segmental surface parts.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

In its illustrated embodiment, the invention is disclosed in connection with a pin type platen.

The impact of the imprinting elements is sustained by a platen roll 15 which in accordance with the instant inventive concept, is oscillated in use through selected arcs which are less than a full 360 of rotation. The platen roll comprises a metal cylinder 16 to the outer surface of which is bonded series arranged segments 17, 18 and 19 made of a rubber or rubber-like material and each having a density and surface hardness different from the others. The several segments 17, 18 and 19 are separated by parting strips 21 received in grooves 22 in the surface of the cylinder 16 and attached to the cylinder in a permanent manner, as by screws 23.

The platen roll 15 is supported in the machine through bearing hubs 24 and 25 received in respective counterbores in the ends of the cylinders 16 and secured in an appropriate manner to the cylinder.

The bearing hubs 24 and 25 are adapted for a relatively rotatable mounting on a tube 26 which serves as an axial spacer between pin wheel feed devices 27 and 28. The devices 27 and 28 are supported on a sleeve 29 which surrounds and is secured to a shaft 31. The latter is the platen shaft of the machine and is rotated, normally in an intermittent step by step fashion in the operation of the machine. The sleeve 29 is formed with a longitudinal series of notches 32 and with a longitudinally extending keyway 33.

The pin wheel device 27 comprises a body 34 relatively rotatably mounted on the sleeve 29 and'carrying a latch lever '35 which may be received in a notch32'to inhibitrelative longitudinal motion of the body 'with respect to the sleeve 29. Also, a key 36. passes through the body 34-and is received in the keyway'33whe'reby to lock the pin wheel body to the sleeve 29 for unison rotary motion while permitting relative longitudinal adjustment of the body 34, as may be'accomplished by lifting the latch lever 35out'of a groove. 32, moving the body as desired and repositioning .the lever in its newly aligned groove. The body34 is formed with? a radial circumferential series of openings 37 from which feed ing pins 38 project in order of progression defined by a cam 39 attached-to. a reactant member'41'in surrounding relation to the sleeve 29 and anchored to a cross: rod 42 which forms a relatively stationary part' of-the typewriter carriage. A ring nut'43 is screwed onto a central projecting hub portion of the body 34 and holds the parts of the pin pin wheel mechanism in'assembled relation. One end of the body 34 abuts an adjacent end of the tube 26.

The pin wheel assembly 28 comprises a body 44 which is abutted by the opposite end of the tube 26. A key 45 connects the pin wheel body 44 to the sleeve 29 for unison rotary and relative longitudinal motions. The assembly 28 further comprises a cam member 46 and reactant member 47, like the corresponding elements 39 and 41 of the assembly 27, and the parts of the assembly are held together by a ring nut 48 like the nut 43 of the first considered pin wheel assembly.

The pin wheel assembly 28 is held in a longitudinally adjusted position by a lock ring assembly comprising a body 49 keyed to the sleeve 29 by a key 51 and releasably held against relative longitudinal motion by a catchlever 52 constructed and arranged like the aforementioned lever 35 for engagement with the notches 32 in the sleeve 29. The body 49 mounts an externally knurled ring or collar 53 adjustable on the body 49 to press against the ring nut 48 and thereby frictionally confine the pin wheel assembly 28 between one end of the tube 26 and the lock ring assembly comprised of parts 49 and 53.

g It will be understood that the use of a lock ring-assembly, as described, affords easy access to the pin wheel assembly 28 whereby the parts may more easily be removed from the platen shaft or the spacing between the pin wheel assemblies increased or reduced to accommodate wider or narrower record strip material.

Also, it will be noted that one end of the cylinder 16 of the platen roll is under cut at 54 tointerfit with a correspondingly shaped portion 55 on the pin wheel body 34. The interfitting relationship of the parts 54 and 55 is a loose one which does not preclude an. independent rotation of the platen roll, the other end of the cylinder 16 being out of contact with the pin wheel body 44. That end of the body 44 facing the platen. roll is formed with a reduced diameter shoulder 56providing a bearing for one end of an arm 57, the other end of which is bifurcated and engaged with the crossnrod 42. On the arm 57 is a gear 58 meshing with an id-ler .gear 59 also on the arm 57 and rotated through the idler gear by a further gear 61 mounted on a further projecting portion 62 of the body 44, which latter portion of the pin wheel bodyabuts the tube 26. The gear 61 is connected by the key 45,as shown in Fig. 6, to the pin wheel body and to the sleeve29 for rotation therewith. Rotary motion of the shaft 31 thus is effective through gears 61 and 59 correspondingly to rotate the gear 58. Onone side of the disc58, in eccentric relation to .thecenter thereof; is .a stud 63. On a discv 64 interposed between Y of type bars 76.

4 v the gear 61 and the adjacent end of the platen roll 15 is a stud 65. Interconnecting the studs 63 and 65 is a link 66. In response to rotation of the gear 58, the link 66 acts as a crank, oscillating the disc 64 through a range of movement determined by the location of the stud 63 relatively to the center of the gear 58.

The bearing hub 25 of the platen roll 15 projects through and beyond one end of the cylinder 16 and is formed with a reduced diameter portion 67 providing a mounting surface for the disc 64. The projecting, part of the hub 25 further is formed with a circumferential series of equi-distant detent notches 68. The latter are individually engageable by the turnedover end .of a spring 69 which at its opposite end is anchored to a stud 71 on the side of the disc 64. When engaged in a notch 68, the spring finger 69 offers substantial resistance to dislodgement and so constrains the platen roll 15 to take part in the oscillatory movements of the disc 64.

The platen mechanism as described normally occupies a position in relation to other parts of the carriage, substantially as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3. Thus, the platen overlies a paper pan 72, which, together with a table 73 and a scale 74 guides record strip material 75 from the rear of the carriage beneath and to the front of the platen, causing it to pass through a writing line aszdefined by the place of impact upon the platen roll surface In response to rotation of the platen shaft 31, the pin wheel assemblies 27 and 28 are turned and by virtue of their engagement with marginal perforations in the strip 75 advance the strip to bring successive portions thereof to the writing line. As is clear from thepreceding description, the motion of thepin wheels, and therefore of the strip material, is effected independently of the platen roll which does not rotate with'the platen shaft. Instead, the platen roll effects a single oscillatory motion in response to a predetermined extent of rotation of the platen shaft, as for-example one full revolution thereof. Also, the range of oscillatory movement of the platen roll is within the. limits of a single segment 17, 18 or 19, these segments being selectedfor presentation at the writing line by manually turning the platen roll' when the pin wheel assemblies are at restzin order to force one of the notches 68 out of detenting relation with the spring finger 69 and bring another such notch into engagement with the spring finger. .lt will be understood that the notches'68 are arrangedso'. that when the spring finger 69 engages a selected one thereof then a selected segment 17, 18 or 19 will appear in the writing line and will traverse such writing'line during rotation of the shaft'31. The latter motion normally is a step by step movement, eifectinga line byline advance of the record strip material, so that the oscillatory motion of the platen roll likewise-is a step by step motion in which a different part of the selected segment appears at the writing line upon each successive imprinting operation.

The platen roll may assume forms different from the one shown in Figs. 1 to 10 hereof. It may, for example, be constructed of a plurality of mating sectors each overlaid with its own layer of rubber or rubber-like material of selected density. Also, as shown in Fig. 11 hereof, a single tube 77 may be used like the tube 16 of .thefirst considered embodiment, but with material segments 78, 79 and 81, thereon which are relatively longer than the corresponding segments 17, 18 and 19 and which are contiguous at their adjacent edges. The arrangement of .Fig. 11 provides a larger peripheral surface for a wider distribution of the type impression for more wear and a longer life. The increased range of oscillation, necessary to take advantage of;the longer segments of Fig. 11, may be achieved by mounting the stud 63 on the gear 58 more distant from the center thereof.

in the replacement of a platen roll with one. of lesser or greater length, the collar 53 (Fig. 1) is turned for retraction from the lock nut 48. In the course of such movement, a pm 82 thereon engages and releases the latch or lever 52 from the notch 32 in which it has been received. The lock ring assembly thereupon may be slipped axially oif thessleeve 29. The pin wheel assembly 28 and the arm 57 and associated parts then also may be removed, permitting removal of the platen roll 15 and the substitution thereon of a new tube 26 and platen roll of selected length. Afterthis, the arm 57, pin wheel assembly 28 and following lock ring assembly are reinstalled on the sleeve 29 and secured in place, with the pin wheel body abutting the tube and with the lock ring assembly abutting member 48, the latch 52 being returned to engagement with a notch 32 in sleeve 29 to hold the parts against axial displacement.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise but one of several modes of putting the invention into effect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. In a typewriting or like machine, a rotatable platen shaft, a platen roll rotatable on said platen shaft comprised of a plurality of mating platen segments, and means responsive to a predetermined extent of rotation of said shaft for oscillating said platen roll once through an are approximately corresponding in length to the length of one platen segment.

2. A typewriting or like machine, according to claim 1, characterized in that said last named means includes positive connections between said shaft and said platen roll whereby the movements of said platen roll occur with and commensurately with the motion of said shaft.

3. In a typewriting or like machine, a rotatable platen shaft, a platen roll rotatable on said platen shaft, and means responsive to a predetermined extent of rotation of said shaft effecting a single oscillatory motion of said platen roll in .an are representing a part of the circumference of said platen roll.

4. A typewriting or like machine according to claim 3, characterized in that the surface of said platen roll is comprised of a plurality of mating platen segments, said are approximately corresponding in length to the length of one of said platen segments.

5. In a typewriting or like machine, a rotatable platen shaft, a platen roll on said platen shaft, an element relatively rotatably mounted on said platen shaft, means responsive to a predetermined extent of rotation of said shaft for oscillating said element once, and a connection between said element and said platen roll causing said roll to oscillate with said element, the length of the arc of oscillation of said platen roll representing a part of the circumference thereof.

6. A typewriting or like machine according to claim 5, characterized in that said connection is releasable for manual rotary adjustment of said platen roll relatively to said element.

7. A typewriting or like machine according to claim 6, characterized in that said platen roll is comprised of a plurality of mating platen segments, each of respectively different degrees of surface hardness and each having a length approximately corresponding to the length of the 6 are of oscillation of the platen roll, saidplaten being adjusted upon release of said connection to select said segments for use.

8. In a typewriting or like machine presenting a writing line, a rotatable platen shaft within a plane passing through said writing line, a platen rotatably mounted on said shaft, said platen roll having a cylindrical portion formed with circumferentially spaced apart detent positions, an oscillatory member supported for motion relative to said platen roll and said shaft, spring detent means attached to said member and bearingon the cylindrical portion of said platen roll to seat in a detent position and compel oscillation of said platen roll withfsaid member, and a crank mechanism connecting said member to said platen shaft for a single oscillation ofsaid member in response to a predetermined extent of rotation of said shaft, the effected distance of oscillation of said platen roll being less than the full circumference thereof and said platen roll being adjustable normally relatively to said member to place a dilferent detent position into engagement with said spring detent means whereby to bring a different part of the surface of said platen roll into said writing line for oscillation therethrough.

9. A typewriting or like machine according to claim 8, characterized in that the surface of said platen roll is made up of a plurality of platen segments each having a length approximately corresponding to the effected distance of oscillation of said platen roll, said segments being selected for use by manual adjustment of said platen roll as described.

10. In a typewriting or like machine, a rotatable platen shaft, a platen roll rotatably mounted on said shaft, a bearing hub for one end of said platen roll secured thereto and projecting from one end thereof, the project ing portion of said bearing hub being formed with a circumferential series of spaced apart detent positions, a member mounted on the projecting portion of said bearing hub for relative rotary motion, a spring finger attached to said member and riding the surface of said hub to engage one of said detent positions whereby to connect said platen roll and said member for unison rotation, and a crank connection between said platen shaft and said member effecting in response to a predetermined extent of rotation of said shaft a single oscillation of said member through an arc less than 360, said platen roll being rotatably adjustable against the pressure of said spring finger to engage a different detent position therewith whereby to select a different part of the surface of the platen roll for use.

11. A typewriting or like machine according to claim 10, characterized in that the effected oscillatory arc of said member corresponds approximately to the distance between an adjacent pair of detent positions on said bear ing hub.

12. In a typewriting or like machine, a rotatable platen shaft, laterally spaced apart pin wheel assemblies on said shaft and rotatable therewith, one of said assemblies being slidable longitudinally of said shaft, a tube separating said pin wheel assemblies, means mounted on said shaft in following relation to said one pin wheel assembly urging said one assembly into frictional contact with said tube, a platen roll supported intermediate said pin wheel assemblies for relative rotary motion, and means for oscillating said platen roll through a predetermined range of movement in response to a predetermined extent of rotation of said shaft.

13. In a typewriting or like machine, a platen roll having a plurality of surface segments of respectively different degrees of hardness arranged in series order about the circumference of said roll, and means for putting said roll through successive increments of motion in an oscillatory range of movement in response to successive line spacing operations of the machine and within the limits of a selected one of said segments.

14. A typewriting or like machine according to claim 13, characterized by parting strips recessed in' the platen roll to form a part thereofand separating said. segments. 15. A typewriting or like machine according to' claim 13, characterized in that the-adjacent edges of said segmentsare-in substantially touching relation to'provide a maximum of useful surfacearea'in each' of said segments. 16. In a typewritingor' like machine,'a rotatableplaten shaft, 21' platen roll rotatably mountedon said shaft and having a'plurality of surface segments of respectively'different'degrees of hardness arranged in series order about the circumference'of'said'rdll, a bearing hub for one end ofsaid platen roll secured thereto and projecting from one end thereof, the projecting portion of said bearing hub being formed Witha circumferential series of spaced apart detent'positions, resilient detent means toengage in said detent positions, said platen roll being rotatably adjustable' against the pressureof said: detent means to engage difierentipositions'itherewith whereby to select a diiferent surface segment'of the platen roll for use, .and means to move I'the platen roll in steps within an oscillatory range of movement as defined by the limits of a selected one of said segments in response to rotation of said platen shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 917,809 Stickney Apr. 13, 1909 1,424,905 'Hess Aug. 8, 1922 1,942,747 Degener Jan. 9, 1934 

